What’s Formula 1 without oversized bottles of champagne, the buzzing sound of engines going around a track and grid girls?

Some might think nothing, but F1’s top dogs think otherwise.

To avoid being “at odds with modern day societal norms”, the board has made a decision to no longer allow the employment of grid girls this season, which begins March 25 in Melbourne, reports BBC:

Sean Bratches, managing director of commercial operations, said the change would be made “so as to be more in tune with our vision for this great sport”.

“We don’t believe the practice is appropriate or relevant to Formula 1 and its fans, old and new, across the world.”

While there have been some negative reactions, like this from the Daily Mail (not exactly a shocker, that), the decision was wholeheartedly supported by the Women’s Sport Trust:

“We strongly encourage sports such as cycling, boxing and UFC to follow darts and Formula 1 and reconsider the use of podium girls, ring girls and octagon girls.

“This is not a matter of feminists versus models, which seems to be the way many people want to portray this story.

“These changes are taking place because global businesses are making a considered choice about how women should be valued and portrayed in their sports in 2018. They deserve significant credit for doing so.”

Former and current grid girls weren’t that impressed, however:

Charlotte Gash is a part-time grid girl, who says she is “disgusted” with F1’s decision.

“It’s upsetting and I’m rather disgusted that F1 have given in to the minority to be politically correct.

“I’m one of the lucky ones that I don’t rely on this as a main source of income, but there are girls out there who do.

“I know the grid girls are there to look pretty when they’re out on the grid but my role was interacting with the crowd and we were there as an advertisement for the sponsors. We love doing it we don’t want it taken away from us.”

I wonder what direction brands will take now.

For those of you who have been following the intricacies of what has been happening behind the scenes of Formula 1, the news shouldn’t come as a surprise:

F1 entered a new era last year, when new American owners removed its octogenarian – and notoriously reactionary and politically incorrect – boss Bernie Ecclestone and replaced him with a new corporate structure aimed at making the sport fit for the 21st century.

Appropriate decision? Perhaps.

To bid farewell, let’s take a look at some of the grid girl’s finer moments: